NEW ORLEANS - A former New Orleans school official pleaded guilty to accepting $140,000 in bribes from a political operative thought to be the brother of a U.S. congressman.

Ellenese Brooks-Simms, the former president of the Orleans Parish School Board, admitted in court to accepting bribes from a political operative who was not named in court papers. However, a source close to the investigation alleged the bribe giver as Mose Jefferson, the older brother of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., The New York Times reported Thursday.

Mose Jefferson, who has worked as one of his brother's chief strategists for more than 20 years, was also identified as the operative by local news reports.

Williams Jefferson has been indicted on unrelated bribery charges that don't name his brother but court papers make multiple references to a "Family Member 2." that fits his description. The indictment claims the congressman pressured companies he allegedly assisted into giving a portion of their proceeds to "Family Member 2."